Taxonomy of southern California Erebidae and Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) with descriptions of twenty one new species
Author
Mustelin, Tomas
text
Zootaxa
2006
1278
1
47
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.273509
899ffdc9-d0a8-4d5d-946e-a7cb59be3020
11755326
273509
Anarta fusculenta
(Smith, 1891)
,
NEW STATUS
Fig. 56
a and 56b
Based on differences in genital anatomy between typical
Anarta crotchi
(Grote, 1880)
from Wyoming (
Fig. 57
a and 57b) and specimens referred to as ssp.
fusculenta
(Smith, 1891)
from southern California (
Fig. 56
a and 56b), I raise the latter to species rank as
Anarta fusculenta
(Smith 1891)
,
NEW STATUS
. The male valves of
A. fusculenta
are more robust, broader, and have a sharper outer angle and longer saccular extensions, which extend outward much further from the lateral margin of the valves (
Fig. 56
a). The valves are more similar to those of
A. oaklandiae
(McDunnough, 1937)
(
Fig. 58
), which also has broader and more angular valves, albeit not as prominent as those of
fusculenta
. The saccular extensions are asymmetrical in the three species, but are longest in
fusculenta
, forked and sharp on the left side in
fusculenta
, and blunt in
crotchi
. The saccular extensions on the right side are clubshaped and largest and angular in
fusculenta
, and smaller and more rounded in
crotchi
and
oaklandiae
.
Anarta fusculenta
is generally larger, much darker, and has a less streaky maculation than
A. crotchi
.
Anarta fusculenta
is more similar to
A. oaklandiae
in size and maculation, but considerably darker.
Anarta fusculenta
(Smith, 1891)
is a relatively common and sometimes abundant species in late April–May in the mountains of southern California, particularly in the Laguna Mountains of San Diego County. It also occurs in the Santa Rosa Mountains (Riverside County) and the Transverse Ranges of San
Bernardino
, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern counties.